'The old politics are gone': Steve Bannon warns GOP they're 'finished' if they don't adapt
WASHINGTON, DC: Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon warned Republicans that "the old politics are gone," arguing the party risks becoming politically irrelevant unless it fundamentally changes how it responds to the growing democratic socialist movement.
His remarks came after another democratic socialist-backed candidate defeated an establishment Democrat in a congressional primary. Bannon said the result showed the movement is no longer limited to New York and that Republicans can no longer dismiss it as an isolated political trend.
Steve Bannon says GOP must abandon old political messaging
In an interview with Politico published on Thursday, July 2, the former Trump White House chief strategist said recent victories by candidates backed by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Senator Bernie Sanders reinforce a warning he has been making for months.
"We are facing a new politics. We're seeing the dying of the old politics before us," Bannon said. "You're seeing it burn to the ground before you."
He argued that both Democratic and Republican leaders have underestimated the appeal of grassroots organizing, pointing to Mamdani's campaign as an example of voter engagement outweighing traditional political advantages.
Recalling conversations with donors before Mamdani's victory, Bannon said they dismissed his concerns because former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo had greater financial backing and institutional support.
"I don't care about that," Bannon said. "What Mamdani has is today 1,000 people canvassing, going door-to-door... that's what's going to determine this."
According to Bannon, "Modern politics shows you it's not about the money. It's about voter engagement by people, one on one."
Steve Bannon urges Republicans to embrace populist economic policies
Bannon argued Republicans cannot simply attack proposals such as free rent without offering alternatives that address voters' economic concerns.
"The Republicans don't know how to respond," he said, criticizing GOP figures who argue only that "you can't have free rent."
"If you're going to fight against these guys with, 'You can't have free rent,' that's not a winning formula because people are saying the rent is too damn high," he said.
Instead, Bannon urged Republicans to "come back with real populist economic policies" centered on families and economic opportunity rather than relying on what he described as establishment messaging.
He also warned that Republican leaders face serious electoral risks if they fail to adapt.
"The only thing that's going to save the Republicans is a massive turnout of the lower propensity, lower information Trump voters... otherwise you're going to get overwhelmed," Bannon said.
Steve Bannon warns GOP leaders they are 'finished' without change
Looking toward future elections, Bannon argued politicians focused on traditional Republican priorities are failing to recognize how quickly the political landscape is changing.
"I tell people, don't worry about '28. We are facing a new politics," he said.
He added that politicians "playing the old politics of tax cuts and wars everywhere" were "finished" before issuing another warning to congressional Republicans.
"I just keep telling people, it's a flashing red light, and the John Thunes of the world and Mike Johnson better understand that the old politics are gone."
Although Bannon said Republicans were taking his warning "behind the scenes, extremely seriously," he argued Democrats had yet to grasp the scale of the movement, saying they "tried to actually take Cuomo's playbook and double down on it, and guess what? It's not working."
